Wireless diagnostic system for characterizing a vehicle's exhaust emissions

US6732032B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• THE REYNOLDS AND REYNOLDS COMPANY

Inventors

• Matthew Banet · Del Mar, US
• Bruce D. Lightner · Village of La Jolla, US
• Diego Borrego · San Diego, US
• Chuck Myers · Village of La Jolla, US
• Larkin Hill Lowrey · Village of La Jolla, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 6, 2003
• Grant date: May 4, 2004
• Expiry date: Jun 6, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M15/102
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention features a method and apparatus for remotely characterizing a vehicle's emissions performance. The method features the steps of: i) generating data representative of the vehicle's emissions performance with at least one microcontroller disposed within the vehicle; ii) transferring the data through an OBD, OBD-II or equivalent electrical connector to a data collector/router that includes a microprocessor and an electrically connected wireless transmitter; iii) transmitting a data packet representing the data with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a wireless communications system and then to a host computer; and iv) analyzing the data packet with the host computer to characterize the vehicle's emissions performance.